If I had three wishes to make changes for young children and their families...
One, I would wish for Universal Preschool across the board. A Universal Preschool program similar to Headstart and ECEAP, this program would offer assistance to families of all levels and needs, whether it is financial needs or emotional. Families are all different, and each family has needs that are not being met, it might be difficulty finding a job or a house, or maybe they simply need someone to talk to. The idea behind this Universal Preschool is to help everyone to grow up to be their happiest and healthiest, everyone learning to love and appreciate both themselves and others.
Two, I would wish for a broader use of nature based curriculum, that involves bringing children outside to explore, finding what captures their attention and causes them to focus in their natural environment. What causes them to focus? is it birds? or plants? animals? how do they focus, are they leading the investigation, or hanging back? I personally believe that a curriculum with a strong base in nature is the way to go. I know that not all centers have gardens or woods right outside, it is something that I know could be changed with better funded early childhood grant programs for centers and schools, aimed at improving outside learning environments.
Three, This wish is the one I would wish to change immediately. I would wish for greater oversight in the medication of young children with "behavioral problems" medications that are originally for adults and not for children . I would like to see more research on the effects of these drugs on ADULTS, that is not funded by the company making a profit off of it's use. I know that there are other services and programs we could be offering to the majority of these children for their "behavioral problems", such as counseling services both for the child and the family, self help classes teaching coping techniques for children and families as well as teachers and other professionals in public children's services. Simply allowing children more time to play outside or to engage in more free choice time where they can release pent up energy and frustration. Our society is not very good at letting children be children, we want them to act grown up before they are developmentally ready, we want them to stop acting out because it isn't appropriate, it is appropriate behavior though, it is appropriate to their development and whatever it is that is causing them to act out. We need to focus on the children and the children's needs. I would wish for much more stringent rules and regulations when it comes to prescribing medications to young children whose development could be and will be effected by them, as well as further non-profit research into the medications and their actual effects on everyone. More as well as better resources for those families who need help building extra coping skills and managing daily stress.
